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windshield haze -make it go away!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by clack1, Oct 1, 2007.

  1. clack1

    clack1 New Member

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    I have this haze on my windshield, kind of like a fog. It wipes away ok but returns very quickly. i have tried every possible climate control combination with windows closed and open to try to end this with no success. I have cleaned with every possible combination of solvents and cloths and it still returns. Like i said, it wipes off easily but not such a great thing when rolling down the highway to be cleaning the windshield.
    Any suggestions would be great!
    Prius has about 21,000 miles on it. I have NOT changed the cabin filter - could this be the cause?
     
  2. gippah

    gippah New Member

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    Yep, same problem, especially in the morning.

    You'll need to use the defroster. As you've already figured out I'm sure, opening the window or the vent makes it worse.

    Yes, the defroster vastly lowers the MPG. Toyota clearly decided that seeing out the window is more important than MPG. Sorry.
     
  3. lefat1

    lefat1 Fat Member

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    i had a similar problem in an old honda accord from day 1. dealer couldnt solve it either. my ex wife suggested squeezing a lemon in some water and it worked like a charm. its very expensive tho, if it works please send me $50 and i'll send you a lemon.. :p
     
  4. cheule

    cheule New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lefat1 @ Oct 1 2007, 10:51 AM) [snapback]519872[/snapback]</div>
    Must be this lemon:
    [​IMG]
     
  5. bobc

    bobc New Member

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    What are you using on the dashboard? Some protectorant like Armorall? If so, that's the culprit. It outgasses whenever the sun beats down on it...

    Remove whatever you have on the dashboard with something like Windex that will cut through it ans see if the haze goes away. If that was it, then use a quality product as 303...

    Cheers,
     
  6. Interesting

    Interesting New Member

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    Most of the haze is likely from off-gassing of the plastics in the car. However, mine is over 2 years old and is still experiencing the same haze. This is not a "defrost" type haze this is more a film that cleans off easily with windex.
     
  7. Ari

    Ari New Member

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    Get yourself some Windex "Auto" glass cleaner from the nearest Walmart. It's cheap (~$5) and works very well. Supposedly it's also safe for tinted windows.

    Regular blue Windex never really worked for me, but the Auto flavor seems to keep the haze away for months at a time.

    :lol:
     
  8. phantomracer

    phantomracer New Member

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    I have had good luck with alcohol based window cleaners cutting the haze (or make your own). Also, after you clean the glass..use a dry towel to buff the glass to get any remaining residue off.
     
  9. clack1

    clack1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phantomracer @ Oct 3 2007, 09:14 AM) [snapback]520530[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks for the suggestions - i've tried the auto glass cleaners and they seem to make it worse. I'm betting on the dash cleaners as the cause, never thought of that but makes sense as there's so much glass generating heat.
    I'll try the alcohol mix on the glass and getting the armorall off the dash and let ya'll know the results.

    Thanks again, this has been a real pain in the pooper for me as I'm a bit anal about my front glass being clean.
     
  10. patmagee

    patmagee Junior Member

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    If you want clean glass, use Invisible Glass from a company called Stoner. Use newspaper rather than paper towels. I don't use anything else anymore. I use it on mirrors, house windows, car windows, anything glass. Nothing else comes close.

    You can find it at Wal Mart and Sam's Club.
     
  11. phantomracer

    phantomracer New Member

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    whenver I tried newspaper, all I got was an ink stained mess on the glass.

    I use either white Bounty and blue Scott shop wipes (heavy paper towels) Both are very lint free, durable, and work well.

    I have heard that unprinted newspaper works, but it is not as easy to get.

    I think the key to any glass cleaning job is to wipe the glass clean after with a clean dry towel
     
  12. patmagee

    patmagee Junior Member

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    I only have problems with getting printer's ink on the glass if the glass is hot and is sitting in the direct sunlight. That causes the cleaner to evaporate too quickly.

    Invisible Glass doesn't give me that problem with newspaper as long as I am not using it on superheated glass. In fact, the instructions on the can indicate newspaper should be used. However, any lint free towel should work well. I happen to use newspaper since I have an abundance around.
     
  13. clack1

    clack1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(duderman @ Oct 3 2007, 10:15 AM) [snapback]520561[/snapback]</div>
    ok, so i scrubbed the windshield 'til i couldn't stand being tied up like a pretzel any more, and cleaned the dash so it's now a bit dull (compared to my normal *shine*) and the haze was improved. It still came back but was a bit easier to clean off on my way to work this am. Using the defrost is truely the key but not the total cure. It's funny as the rear has the same haze and there is far less plastic present ( I keep the hidy hole cover rolled up). It seems like it "attaches" to any streak in my cleaning process worse than on other places. There are also some weird shapes that look kinda' like alien blobs with no real definition.

    I am slowly resigning myself that this is a condition I will have to live with, but it didn't happen last year - only in the last couple of weeks.
    thanks
     
  14. koa

    koa Active Member

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    Try about a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol in about a gallon of really really hot tap water and use a terry cloth towel that has been washed at least one time. Make sure the window is in the shade and cool. Don't use on tinted windows unless you check first with company who installed them.

    Also a little Joy (Does not have to be sudsy) in warm water and a small Ettore (brand name) squeegee works well. Use the terry cloth towel and wring out most of the water and clean the window. Make sure you spread a towel over the dash to catch the drips off the squeegee. Clean off what you miss with the squeegee with a terry cloth towel.
     
  15. acdii

    acdii Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gippah @ Oct 1 2007, 08:13 AM) [snapback]519778[/snapback]</div>
    If you turn off the AC part it doesn't affect MPG. :D I have the same hazing issue in the morning and since I never use the auto AC anymore, the defrost works fine and I don't lose MPG.
     
  16. J.Wilkie

    J.Wilkie 80 Mile Daily Commute

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    When I bought my Chamois, with it I received a "free" window haze removal chamois. Basically, it's a chamois wrapped around a sponge, It works real good......I will try to post photos later.
     
  17. barbaram

    barbaram Active Member

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    invisible glass with a microfiber towel. if you go to autosport there is a cool cleaner gadget.
    the haze may return but it will take longer.....nothing lasts forever!
     
  18. route246

    route246 Member

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    Re: windshield haze -make it go away!

    I bought some of this stuff (Invisible Glass) at Lowes and I have never been so impressed with a product before in my life, other than with the Prius itself. Stoner is orders of magnitude better than anything else I've ever tried. This stuff is truly amazing.

     
  19. DGH

    DGH Thread Terminator

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    Re: windshield haze -make it go away!

    Yes, it works great, thumbs up for Stoner!

    Target and Ace Hardware also carry it in my neck of the woods.
     
  20. Dr Ed

    Dr Ed New Member

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    Re: windshield haze -make it go away!

    I use Invisible Glass too. Works great except on really greasy road grime. The grime comes off well with a few wipes of rubbing alcohol, followed by the Invisible Glass.